Apparatus for draining deep underground strata



June 1969 TATSUO MORIMOTO 3,451,343

APPARATUS FOR DRAINING DEEP UNDERGROUND STRATA Sheet Filed Aug. 21, 1967 mvmon Toisuo Morimoio WM M ATTORNEYS June 24, 1969 TATSUO MORIMOTO APPARATUS FOR DRAINING DEEP UNDERGROUND STRATA Z of 4 Sheet Filed Aug. 21, 1967 J1me 1969' TATSUO MORIMOTO 3,451,343

APPARATUS FOR DRAINING DEEP UNDERGROUND STRATA Sheet Filed Aug. 21, 1967 INVENIOR Tutsuo Morlmoto ATTORN Y.

n 24, 1969 TATSUO MORIMOTO 3,451,348

APPARATUS FOR DRAINING DEEP UNDERGROUND STRATA Filed Aug. 21, 1967 Sheet INVENTOR Tatsuo Monmofo ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 103-179 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Pumps for apparatus for draining deep underground strata include a pump cylinder having a plurality of sloted intake ports and perforated ports housing a hollow slotted piston rod mounting a piston having some upand-down motion of its own independent of the reciprocating piston rod, associated with a valve structure wherein the valve member seats upon a seat carried by the piston rod below the piston. A pair of small drainage fluid-receiving chambers are provided communicating with the perforations and moving with movements of the piston, assist in the pumping action. The pump cylinder contains a packing chamber containing a compressible spongy packing and the piston rod is reciprocated by any one of three types of mechanism to convert rotary to reciprocatory motion.

This invention relates to a draining apparatus by means of a plunger pump with a single piston enabling continuous average drainage in draining work in deep underground strata, and is an improvement upon portions of the apparatus of my United States Letters Patent No. 3,215,213, dated Dec. 2, 1965 for Apparatus for Draining Underground Strata.

When in excavating downwardly to deep underground strata in order to construct the substructures of buildings, it is desirable to lower the water table or to increase the strength of strata by consolidation the settlement of soil, it has been expedient that the water table be lowered, in some cases, from to meters. However, in vacuum suction pump means is used, drainage being practised depending upon only suction power of above-ground vacuum pump means, drainage of the water table from 6 to 7 meters underground can be obtained.

The first object of this invention is a provide for drainage of high head water in deep underground strata, drainage apparatus whereby consolidation of the strata is effected upon withdrawal of a quantity of underground water without adversely affecting the strata for subsequent building thereupon by lowering and working a single piston type pump operatively connected to the bottom end of a long draining pipe reaching the desired depth and without raising the pump into a plurality of stages, as is common in the drainage of deep underground strata.

Another object of this invention is to provide drainage apparatus for deep underground strata by the employment of a piston pump in which the pump cylinder is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart alternate horizontal rows of perforations and slots in communication with a plurality of openings in a casing spaced from and surrounding the pump and a riser operativaly connected therewith, whereby the piston upon reciprocation alternately covers and uncovers rows of the perforations and slots.

Another object of this invention is to provide water tight apparatus where such is desirable in the operation of the pump of this invention.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be more fully understood by the following explanations of embodiments thereof and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a pump of this inveution within a strainer and casing in vertical sections and disposed within strata, in vertical sections.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the pump of FIG 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged horizontal sectional views substantially on their respective lines of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a grooved lower portion of the pump of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional front and side views respectively of modified driving means for the pump of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are further enlarged modified vertical sectional views (front and side respectively) of the drive means for the pump of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic showing the relation of volume of drained water to electric current when the first modification of a driving means of above FIGS. 6 and 7 is employed.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic showing the relation of volume of drained water and electric current when the second modification of the driving means of chain system of FIGS 8 and 9 is employed.

FIG. 12A is a schematic drawing in draining procedure of deep underground strata when using a conventional pump for the purpose.

PIG. 12B is a schematic drawing of draining procedure as carried out by the pump of this invention.

FIG. 13 is a comparison diagrammatic showing the relation of draining volume of water and electric current employing a conventional pump and employing a pump of my invention.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred and modified forms of the invention, the letter A designates a pump assembly of the invention; C, a closure; D, coupling means; E, a casing; G, gear reduction coupling or means; H, a header; J, a flexible conduit connection; K, drainage fluid intake ports portion; M, a motor operatively connected with the gear reduction coupling or means G; R, a riser or drainage conduit; P, a pump; S, strainer means; X, muddy strata; and Y, sandy strata, through which extends the casing E, strainer S and riser R, which later extends through the closure C, which seals the upper end of the strainer S. The structures G, K, M and P are contained within the lower portion of the strainer S.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus of this invention employs a piston-type pump P, a plurality of which may be arranged in stepped series, as shown, for example, in FIG. 12. Each pump P is operatively connected to the lower end portion of a riser or drainage conduit R, which extends upwardly and exteriorly of the ground and through an airtight opening in the closure C, where the upper end of the riser or drainage conduit is operatively coupled to one end of a flexible conduit con'ection J, the other end of which is operatively connected to a header H for the conveyance of the discharged drainage fluid to a suitable location, such as a stream. Below the pump P is the drainage intake ports portion K which is operatively connected with the intake of the pump P. The pump P may be operatively connected with the intake of the pump P. The pump P may be operated by a conventional electric motor M with a gear reduction coupling or means G interposed between it and the operating means of the pump P which will be subsequently described in detail.

Pump A is an essential part of this invention and, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper end portion of the chamber 6 of the pump cylinder 1 opens into the interior of the riser or drainage pipe R which later extends through an opening in an end wall of the cylinder 1, with the cylinder wall and riser wall suitably rigidly connected in any approved way. Immediately below the end wall 5 of the cylinder and within the chamber 6 is disposed a resilient tubular packing 2 substantially filling the chamber 6; the lower end of which chamber is slidably closed by a first or upper flange extending outwardly from and secured to the tubular piston rod 11. Spaced a relatively short distance below the upper flange is a second flange also extending outwardly from and secured to the piston rod 11, and defining, with the adjacent wall a movable subchamber. Opening into the wall 5 are a plurality of spaced apart openings 14 which, in one position of the piston rod 11 open into the subchamber just described, as may be seen in FIG. 2. However, upon upward movement of the rod, drainage liquid may enter the openings and flow by gravity into the lower portions of the chamber of the pump cylinder and enter the tubular piston rod chamber via the slots 10 in the piston rod, where they are forced upwardly for discharge. Secured to the piston rod 11 is the floating piston 12. The piston 12 floats between the stops 8 and 9 integral with the rod 11, whereby its horizontal plane will intersect the slots 10 intermediate the ends of the slots or the piston may be positioned as in FIG. 2 disposed upon the lower stop 8. Spaced below the piston 12 is a second pair of flanges, jointly designated as 3, with the upper flange rigid with the cylinder wall 1 and provided with a valve seat alternately opened or closed by a valve disc 19 rigidly carried by the rod 11. Openings in the cylinder wall permit flow of drainage fluid into the space or subchamber between the upper and lower of the flanges, with the lower flange rigidly carried by the rod 11, for reciprocation therewith. Slidable over the exterior face of the rod 11 is a collar 21 to reinforce the valve disc 19 and support the lower end portion of a flexible seal sleeve 25, of accordian construction for extension and retraction.

Extending into the lower end portion of the tubular piston rod 11 is a transmission rod 13 provided, intermediate its ends, with a longitudinally extending groove 24 into which extends an inwardly-extending projection 23 carried by the rod 11 for engaging the end walls of the groove for up-and-down movement of the rod 11. The seal sleeve 19 covers portions of the groove 24 above the collar 21, as may be seen in FIG. 5. The lower end of the rod 19 is integral with a disc 27 having a peripheral projection or tooth 26 slidable in a helical groove 29 extending into the wall of a rotary cup 29, open at its upper end and with its lower end wall fixedly connected to the output shaft 31 of the reduction gear means G, with the cup 29 disposed in the lower end portion of the cylinder 1 which end portion is closed by an end wall through which extends the shaft 31. Rotation of the shaft 31 in one direction will impart rotation to the cup 29 and transform the rotary motion to the disc 26 which will cause rotary motion combined with longitudinal travel of the rod 13 in one direction carrying with it the piston rod 11, and rotation of the shaft 31 in the opposite direction will cause movement of the piston rod in the opposite direction.

In FIG. 1 it will be seen that the lower end portion of the casing E is provided with a plurality of intake drainage ports of preferably vertically-extending spaced-apart slots disposed in horizontal, rows for the intake of material, as water, to be drained from the strata. Obviously, the number of the rows and the extent they continue along the casing may vary as desired for good drainage practice.

In a typical drainage operation employing my apparatuses disposed within a drainage hole, the motive means M is first started by conventional electrical circuit means controlled from the ground surface, and the reduction gear means G operatively connected thereto rotates in its turn the cup 31 and causes the rod to rotate. The projection engaging with spiral grooves 28, 29 on the inner wall of cylinder 27, the disc 26 and transmitting rod 13 connected thereto alternately reciprocate up and down. For example, when transmitting rod 13 goes up draining pipe 11 connected thereto also goes up. As piston 2t) loosely inserted on pipe 11 is pressed down on flange 9 is stopped, and then rises, thus pressuring the drainage fluid above the piston 12, and upper valve 18 rises to the flange 20 and closes the valve, while lower part of longitudinal slot 10 is closed by piston 12, but upper part of this said slot is open, whereby drainage fluid above the piston flows into pipe 11 through this large volume of drainage fluid rises inside draining pipe R, and is exhausted through drain pipe D and, at the same time, a volume of water is held in condenser chamber 6. At the same time at the lower part of piston 12 that is on the opposite side of piston 12 lower valve unseats from lower valve seat 17 and opens the valve, stopping at lower flange 21 and fluid outside of cylinder is sucked in from lower intake 15 through the opening in the seat and fills lower chamber of piston 12 cylinder 1. Further, with piston 12 in that position, pipe 11 reaches maximum upper position and there and then begins to descend, the piston 12 is pressed against the piston stop flange 8 by water in the lower portion of the cylinder, then begins to descend with draining pipe 11, thus pressuring the drainage fluid under piston 12 whereupon lower valve 19 moves from lower limiting flange 21 and seats on the lower seat 17 and upper part of slot 10 is shut by piston 12, but as lower part of the slot is open and drainage fluid under piston 12 comes into draining pipe 11 and continues its flow in the same way as before. At the same time, on the upper stroke of piston 12 on the opposite side thereof, as upper valve 18 unseats and is stopping by upper limiting ring 20, ground water (drainage fluid) outside the cylinder is sucked through the holes or ports 14 (FIG. 2) of the piston cylinder 1 and fills the chamber below the valve 18 and above the valve 19. Drainage fluid is thusly therein to be moved upon the next stroke of the piston 12. In this way in accordance with the reciprocation of draining pipe 11 and reciprocation of the piston, successive drainage is repeated. Owing to some play existing between reciprocal extent of movement and opening or shutting of the valve, there is some loss of volume of drained water, or like fluid, and energy, To prevent this loss sudden quantitative change of drained water, the resilient spongy-packing 7. Of course, in some cases, there is no great difference whether this sponge 7 is provided or not, and so can be omitted.

Two shorter slots, but of twice the length of the slot 10 may be substituted for the slot 10.

Various ways can be devised besides driving mechanism of that of the cam system above-mentioned.

(1) That of crank system with gear 20 and crank 42 as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

(2) That of chain system with gears 43, 44 and chain wheels 45, 46 and chain 47 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

When there is any fear of entrance of oil into lower part of driving apparatus into cylinder 1 or entrance Water in cylinder 1 by reciprocal motion of transmitting rod 13, this fear can be obivated insofar as the area is concerned from upper end of transmitting rod 13 to lower limiting flange 21 with flexibile seal pipe 25.

Referring to modification (1) as noted above and to FIGS. 6 and 7, a bevel gear 40 is operatively connected for rotation with the motor M and in mesh with a larger bevel gear 41 to the face of which is pivotally connected the lower end portion of a link 42 having its upper end portion pivotally connected with the lower end portion of the transmitting rod 13 heretofore described.

Referring to modification (2) as above and FIGS '8 and 9, a bevel gear 43 similar in scope to the bevel gear 40 is in mesh with a bevel gear 44 which is rigidly coupled to a sprocket wheel 45 to rotate therewith on a mutual axis. A sprocket chain 46 is trained over the sprocket wheel 45 and over a sprocket wheel 46, spaced therefrom. Pivotally connected to the chain is one end portion of a link 42 which is the equivalent of the link 42 of FIGS. 6 and 7 and functions similarly.

Referring to FIG. which shows diagrammatically the relation of the volume of drainage to the electrical current requirement, when employing the pump A with the modified structure of FIGS 6 and 7. FIG. 11 shows diagrammatically the relationship of volume of drainage to the electrical current requirement, when employing the modified structure of FIGS. 8 and 9.

In order to illustrate the wide difierence in the conventional step-'by-step procedure for draining strata, -I have provided FIG. 11A for comparison with FIG. 113 where my new apparatus of FIGS. 1, 2 and the same as modified in FIGS. 6 to 9 inclusive are employed. In this connection, FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic showing of the volume of drainage Q employing my pump assemblies of FIGS. 6-9 with 1 ampere of electric current and a 9-liter column of drainage fluid, and time t if i in dotted line q in full line, through graph of drained volume Q in semiperiod is semicircular, electric current value i shows peak current graph and it is though that it becomes clear that great energy is necessary for, once arrested in the drainage pipe, to resume lifting. To show these values may be generalized as 20 m., draining volume, 70 l./min., piston stroke 400 mm., piston reciprocating period 40 rpm. The motor used 200 v. 4-pole, thus peak current approximated 20 ampere as against rated current 3 ampere for about 1 horsepower. This would seem to indicate that conventional plunger pump can never be used for high head drainage.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been illustrated by way of example in the drawings and particularly described, it will be understood that modifications may be made in the construction and that the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments shown. Moreover, the features of these embodiments shown in the drawings are mutually interchangeable.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for draining deep underground strata, said apparatus including a vertical pump cylinder provided with a plurality of horizontal rows of spaced apart elongated drainage fluid intake ports intermediate the ends thereof and two horizontal rows of a plurality of spaced apart second drainage fluid intake ports disposed between and spaced from two rows of said elongated drainage fluid intake ports, each of the two rows being remote from each other; a piston reciprocable within said cylinder; a hollow piston rod within said cylinder and being open at both ends, said piston being loosely carried by said piston rod intermediate the ends thereof; means carried by said piston rod permitting a limited length of play of said piston along said piston rod comprising a pair of upper and lower stops carried by said piston rod; said piston rod having a drainage fluid intake port in communication with the interior of said piston rod and disposed whereby the horizontal plane thereof intersects said piston; valve means including a valve seat carried by and bridging said cylinder, and a valve member encircling said piston rod, and stop means carried by said piston rod permitting reciprocation of said valve member along a limited part of said piston rod; said valve seat being spaced a short distance above the horizontal planes of the second of said two rows of drainage fluid intake ports; a barrier plate bridging said cylinder immediately below said valve seat and, with said valve seat and the adjacent wall of said cylinder, defining a chamber into which said drainage fluid intake ports of said second row open; two spaced-apart plate barriers carried by said piston rod and bridging said cylinder above and below the horizontal planes of the drainage intake ports of the uppermost of said two rows, whereby a second chamber is provided defined by said pair of barrier plates and the adjacent wall of said cylinder; and operating means extending into the lower end of said piston rod to reciprocate said piston rod.

2. Apparatus for draining deep underground strata, said apparatus including a vertical pump cylinder provided with a plurality of horizontal rows of spaced apart elongated drainage fluid intake ports intermediate the ends thereof and two horizontal rows of a plurality of spaced apart second drainage fluid intake ports disposed between and spaced from two rows of said elongated drainage fluid intake ports, each of the two rows being remote from each other; a piston reciprocable within said cylinder; a hollow piston rod within said cylinder and being open at both ends, said piston being loosely carried by said piston rod intermediate the end thereof; means carried by said piston rod permitting a limited length of play of said piston along said piston rod comprising a pair of upper and lower stops carried by said piston rod; said piston rod having a drainage fluid intake port in communication with the interior of said piston rod and disposed whereby the horizontal plane thereof intersects said piston, valve means including a valve seat carried by and bridging said cylinder, and a valve member encircling said piston rod, and stop means carried by said piston rod permitting reciprocation of said valve member along a limited part of said piston rod; said valve seat being spaced a short distance above the horizontal planes of the second of said two rows of drainage fluid intake ports; a barrier plate bridging said cylinder immediately below said valve seat and, with said valve seat and the adjacent wall of said cylinder defining a chamber into which said drainage fluid intake ports of said second row open; two spacedapart plate barriers carried by said piston rod and bridging said cylinder above and below the horizontal planes of the drainage intake ports of the uppermost of said two rows, whereby a second chamber is provided defined by said pair of barrier plates and the adjacent wall of said cylinder; said cylinder having end closures with the uppermost end closure, the uppermost of said pair of plate barriers and the adjacent wall of said cylinder defining a packing compartment; and packing in said compartment; and operating means extending into the lower end of said piston rod to reciprocate said piston rod.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that said packing is of compressible material.

4. Apparatus according to claim Zcharacterized in that said packing is of compressible spongy material and said uppermost end closure is provided with an opening, and an end portion of a drainage pipe extends therethrough and receives the upper end portion of said piston.

5. Apparatus for draining deep underground strata, said apparatus including a vertical pump cylinder provided with a plurality of horizontal rows of spaced apart elongated drainage fluid intake ports intermediate the ends thereof and two horizontal rows of a plurality of spaced aparent second drainage fluid intake ports disposed between and spaced from two rows of said elongated drainage fluid intake ports, each of the two rows being remote from each other; a piston reciprocable within said cylinder; a hollow piston rod within said cylinder and being open at both ends, said piston being loosely carried by said piston rod intermediate the ends thereof; means carried by said piston rod permitting a limited length of play of said piston along said piston rod comprising a pair of upper and lower stops carried by said piston rod; said piston rod having a drainage fluid intake port in communication with the interior of said piston rod and disposed whereby the horizontal plane thereof intersects said piston, said piston rod also having an elongated slot extending from the lower open end of said piston rod to above said valve seat and valve member; an expansible and contractable sleeve of drainage fluid impervious material surrounding said piston rod above said upper stop; valve means including a valve seat carried by and bridging said cylinder, and a valve member encircling said piston rod, and stop means carried 'by said piston rod permitting reciprocation of said valve member along a limited part of said piston rod; said valve seat being spaced a short distance above the horizontal planes of the second of said two rows of drainage fluid intake ports; a barrier plate bridging said cylinder immediately below said valve seat and with said valve seat and the adjacent wall of said cylinder defining a chamber into which said drainage fluid intake ports of said second row open; two spacedapart plate barriers carried by said piston rod and bridging said cylinder above and below the horizontal planes of the drainage intake ports of the uppermost of said two rows, whereby a second chamber is provided defined by said pair, of barrier plates and the adjacent wall of said cylinder; and operating means extending into the lower end of said piston rod to reciprocate said piston rod, including a rotatable rod having an upper end portion slidable within said piston rod having a tooth extending outwardly therefrom and slidable along said elongated slot.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 characterized in that said operating means is a rotary-to-reciprocating and rotary means and includes a rotating cup having an interior spiral groove with a tooth carried by said reciprocating rod and extending into said spiral groove.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 characterized in that said operating means is a rotary-to-reciprocating and ro- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 975,781 11/1910 Morris 103l92 1,211,408 1/1917 Chapman 103-212 1,916,948 7/ 1933 Hartog 103-213 2,326,378 8/1943 McConnohie 103192 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

